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“Good afternoon, ladies,” a woman behind the desk said pleasantly. “We’ve been eagerly waiting for your return.”
She stood, smoothing her white uniform flat against her stomach, and stepped out from behind. She smiled broadly and picked up an electronic device.
“I’ll just need your scan,” she said and held it towards us.
Veronica stepped forward and put her face close to the device. The woman pushed a button, a bright green light burst out and zig-zagged across Victoria’s skin.
The woman in white turned to me, smiled, and tilted her head. Her eyes were startling blue, and her hair was dyed a perfect golden blonde. She had light pink lipstick highlighting her full lips, and her white uniform plunged down to reveal a full, perfect cleavage.
She was almost manufactured to be exactly what every red-blooded American male would desire. So why did she make me so nervous? Was it because I wasn’t a man?
“Just look into the light and keep your eyes open,” the woman said, holding the device up to my face this time. “It will scan your features and let us know exactly what treatment will suit you best.”
I didn’t reply and did as she instructed. I almost told her nothing was happening when the entire room exploded into bright green neon light. I could see flickers at the edges of my vision, but everywhere else was bathed in it.
And just when I thought I couldn’t take anymore, the green light disappeared and was replaced by darkness. I felt myself falling forward, pitching straight through the black nothingness, my arms and legs spinning all around me as a silent scream exploded from my lungs.
I fell endlessly, spiraling into the void until my lungs were emptied of air and my head was emptied of thoughts.
And somewhere, impossibly, I heard my name.
“Willow, Willow!”
And felt somebody slapping my face.
And I was suddenly dragged back into the light. The green flashing lights.
“Hello, Willow,” Victoria said, gently slapping my cheek. “She said to keep your eyes open, or this isn’t going to work.”
“Oh, sorry,” I said. “How long did I have them closed?”
“It was like an extended blink, nothing too worrisome,” the woman in white said with a pleasant smile. The light flicked off, and her smile didn’t change. “And now we’re done. They’re ready for you.”
She gestured towards a door that slid open as we approached.
I just followed Victoria. I had no idea where I was going. It all felt sterile, like a hospital. Or a research laboratory. It was all very confusing, considering the rest of the campus had the vibe of a gothic mansion.
“Over here,” Victoria said and began to walk faster with a distinct skip in her walk. She seemed giddy about the treatments we were about to receive.
We sat in matching white plastic seats, like something you’d find in a hair salon, and waited.
It was only a few moments before the door opened again. A familiar face walked in with a wide grin and a bright exclamation.
“Willow, I’m so pleased to see you again,” Flora said.
And finally, I had a firm grasp on somebody in this strange, wavering world.
CHAPTER8
“How haveyou been handling it on the outside?” Flora asked, going straight to work.
“It’s been good,” I replied, lying to her. “It’s been an adjustment after waking up, but I’ve been relearning my life.”
“She’s impossibly stupid now,” Victoria complained. “Can you do something about that?”
She laughed, a cruel sound, to lighten her statement, but it didn’t do much to soften the blow. There was too much animosity dripping from each word to disguise the disgust she felt for me.
I didn’t care. I was too happy to see Flora, to be around somebody who made sense. Somebody I clearly remembered.
